Guide to Body Care: Bathing, Moisturising and Exfoliating

Body skin is exposed daily to hot water, soap, air conditioning and sunlight. Saudi Arabia's dry climate increases moisture loss. Good care needs suitable choices and simple habits: gentle showers, timely moisturising and moderate exfoliation.

Lotion, Cream, Butter or Oil?

• Lotion: lightweight and easily absorbed, suitable for normal skin, large areas and hot weather.
• Cream: thicker than lotion and retains moisture longer, suitable for dry skin and rough areas such as elbows and knees.
• Body Butter: rich in fats such as shea and cocoa butter, suitable for severe dryness and preferably used at night.
• Body Oil: applied to damp skin after showering for a soft feel and light sheen.

Ingredients You Will See on the Pack

• Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid: substances that attract water to the skin surface.
• Ceramides: natural skin fats that help support its barrier.
• Petroleum Jelly and Shea Butter: form a layer that reduces water evaporation.
• Urea, Lactic Acid and Salicylic Acid: help soften rough skin but may sting slightly on cracked skin.
• Fragrances: choose a fragrance-free formula if your skin is sensitive.

Lotions and Creams for Daily Moisturising

• Eucerin Daily Hydration Lotion 500 ml— an Eucerin daily moisturising lotion in a 500 ml pack.
• Eucerin Original Healing Lotion 500 ml— an Eucerin lotion in a 500 ml pack.
• NIVEA Nourishing Body Lotion Extra Dry Skin 400 ml— a nourishing lotion labelled for very dry skin.
• NIVEA Shea Smooth Body Lotion 400 ml— a Nivea shea butter lotion.
• NIVEA Cocoa Butter Body Lotion 400 ml— a Nivea cocoa butter lotion in a 400 ml pack.
• Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion 400 ml— a Jergens lotion in a 400 ml pack.
• Vaseline Essential Healing Body Lotion 400 ml— a basic Vaseline body lotion.
• CeraVe Moisturising Cream 454 g— a rich CeraVe moisturising cream in a large pack.
• Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream 550 g— a Cetaphil moisturising cream in a 550 g pack.

Rough Skin and Severe Dryness

• Eucerin Roughness Relief Lotion 500 ml— an Eucerin lotion for rough skin.
• Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 10% Urea Body Lotion 250 ml— a body lotion with 10% urea.
• Karite African Shea Butter 200 g— shea butter in a 200 g pack.
• Exotic Passion Night Body Butter 200 ml— an Exotic body butter in a 200 ml pack.
• Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Oil 200 ml— a Vaseline cocoa body oil.

Body Washes

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends showers of 5 to 10 minutes with warm rather than hot water and a gentle cleanser, then patting skin dry and applying moisturiser within a few minutes while it is still damp.

• Dettol Sensitive Skin Body Wash 650 ml— a body wash labelled for sensitive skin.
• Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash 250 ml— a Dove body wash described as deeply nourishing.
• Johnson's Vita Rich Smoothing Body Wash 400 ml— a Johnson's Vita-Rich papaya body wash.
• Johnson's Vita-Rich Yoghurt, Peach & Coconut Body Wash 400 ml— a shower gel with yoghurt, peach and coconut.
• CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser 236 ml— a salicylic-acid wash for rough skin.

Exfoliate Moderately

Exfoliation removes dead cells and helps moisturiser work, but overdoing it weakens the skin barrier. Once or twice weekly is enough, preferably at the end of a shower after skin softens, with light pressure. Do not exfoliate inflamed, sunburned or broken skin, and avoid exfoliating on the same day as hair removal.

• Kap Scrub Cream 500 g— a cream scrub in a 500 g pack.
• Shifa Scrub Shea Butter 300 ml— a Shifa shea butter scrub.
• Exotic African Black Soap Face & Body Scrub 400 ml— an African black soap scrub for face and body.
• Siwa Oasis Body Loofah Large Soft— a large, soft body loofah for light exfoliation.

Dry the loofah after each use and replace it regularly, as constant dampness allows germs to grow.

Common Mistakes and Precautions

• Long showers in very hot water increase dryness.
• Leaving moisturiser until later rather than applying just after showering.
• Using exfoliants daily or with strong pressure.
• Consult a doctor or pharmacist if itching persists or a rash or painful cracks appear despite regular moisturising.

Browse more in the Body Care and Moisturising sections.